lliJLV^ 



REGULATING THE EXAMINATION OF 
TEACHERS IN ALABAMA, 



WITH 



RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS OF STATE 
BOARD OF EXAMINERS. 



ISSUKI) BY 

JOHN W. ABERCROMBIE, 

SUPKUINTKNllENT (»F ElU<\\TlON. 



LAW 



EEGULATII^]"G THE EXAMHSTATIO]^ OF 
TEACHEES I]^ ALABAMA, 



WITH 



EULES A^D IISrSTEUCTIOlSrS OF STATE 
BOAED OF EXAMIIsTEES. 



ISSUED BY 



JOHN W. ABERCROMBIE, 

Superintendent of Education. 



MONTGOMERY, ALA. 

BROWN PRINTING CO., PRINTERS 4 BINDER?. 

1899. 



U3mx 



I^OV 34 1908 



AN ACT 

To Establish a Uniform System for the Examina- 
tion and Licensing of Teachers of Public 
Schools. 

Section 1. Be if Enacted by the General Assembly 
of Alabama, That there shall be constituted a State 
Board of Examiners, to be composed of the Superin- 
tendent of Education, who shall be the president of 
the board, and two other persons, to be appointed by 
him, who shall be teachers of extensive experience 
and recognized ability. The term of office of said 
board shall be co-equal with that of the Superin- 
tendent of Education. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, Th^t the sa>id StSite 
Board of Examiners shall meet during the first 
month of each scholastic quarter and shall prepare 
questions for the examination of teachers for the 
current quarter. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That the President 
of the State Board of Examiners shall cause lists of 
the questions so prepared to be printed, and shall, on 
or before the 15th day of the second month of each 
scholastic quarter, send to each County Superin- 
tendent of Education in the State a sufficient 
number of the lists of questions so prepared and 
printed for the conducting of the examinations in 
their respective counties as hereinafter provided ; 
and the questions so sent shall be inclosed in a 
sealed envelope, on the back of which shall be 
plainly written or printed the words "Questions for 
the Examination of Teachers." The seal of said 
envelope shall not be broken except as hereinafter 
provided. 



Sec. 4. Be it further enacted^ That the first 
Monday of the last month in each scholastic quarter 
in which the examination is appointed shall be and 
the same is hereby appointed for the examination 
of teachers, and no examination of any teacher 
shall be held at any other time, provided, however, 
that the said examination may be continued from 
day to day for two consecutive days if such con- 
tinuance shall be necessary for the completion of 
the work of examination ; but no examination shall 
be begun on any other day than the first day men- 
tioned in this section. 

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That said exami- 
nation shall be conducted by the County Superin- 
tendent of Education, or, if he shall be unable, by 
reason of sickness or other unavoidable necessity, 
to conduct the same, then by some other competent' 
person appointed for that purpose by him. Said 
examination shall begin at ten o'clock a. m. of the 
day appointed by section four of this act, at which 
hour the County Superintendent or other person 
appointed to conduct the examination, shall, in the 
presence of the applicants for examination, break 
the seal of the envelope containing the lists of 
questions, and shall distribute the questions among 
the applicants. All the applicants shall undergo 
the examination in the same room, and in sio-ht of 
the County Superintendent of Education or other 
person appointed to conduct the examination. 

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That each appli- 
cant for examination shall, before entering upon 
the examination, deposit with the County Superin- 
tendent of Education or other person appointed to 
conduct the examination, an examination fee as 
follows : An applicant for a third grade certificate,. 



a fee of one dollar ; an applicant for a second grade 
certificate, a fee of one and one-half dollars ; and 
an applicant for a first grade certificate, a fee of 
two dollars. Provided that the fees received for the 
examination of teachers shall be paid into the State 
treasury and appropriated to the support of the 
common school fund, and the Assistant Examiners 
shall receive five dollars per day for the time they 
are conducting the examinations of teacliers under 
this Act to be paid by the State Treasurer upon 
the Auditor's warrant ; and no salary shall be paid 
these examiners under this act for more than two 
hundred days in any one year ; the County Super- 
intendents shall receive five dollars a day when 
actually engaged for not more than ten days in any 
one year. 

Sec. 7. Be if further enacted, That teachers on 
examination shall not be permitted to sit near 
enouo;h to each other to read each other's papers, 
and no teacher on examination shall receive any 
assistance from any person, or by reference to any 
book, map, or chart, or from any other source, and 
no person shall be licensed to teach wdio shall 
endeavor to procure any such assistance. And 
each teacher so examined shall, upon the comple- 
tion of his examination, sign a statement that he 
has not received any assistance in said examina- 
tion from any source ; which statement shall be 
kept on file by the County Superintendent of 
Education. 

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted^ That unless the 
applicant is known to the County Superintendent 
of Education or other person appointed to conduct 
the examination, to be of good moral character, or 
shall juake satisfactory proof of the same, which 



proof shall be in writing, he shall not be admitted 
to examination. Any one who habitually uses 
profane language or intoxicants shall be deemed of 
immoral character. 

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted^ That there shall 
be three grades of teachers' certificates, besides the 
life certificate hereinafter provided, to be known as 
certificates of the first, second, and third grades, 
each of which must show the branches in which 
the holder has been examined, and his relative 
attainments therein ; and every teacher in the 
public schools must obtain a certificate in one of 
such grades ; but in no case shall an applicant for 
a certificate receive the same who fails to answer 
seventy per cent, of the questions propounded in 
each branch. 

Sec. 10. Be it furtlier enacted. That applicants- 
for third grade certificates shall be examined in the 
following branches : Orthography, reading, pen- 
manship, grammar, pr-actical arithmetic through 
fractions, primary geography, and the elementary 
principles of physiology and hygiene ; and appli- 
cants for second grade certificates shall be examined 
in all the foregoing branches, and also in practical 
arithmetic, history of Alabama, history of the 
United States, English grammar and composition, 
and intermediate geography ; and applicants for 
first grade certificates shall be examined in all the 
foregoing branches and also in algebra, natural 
philosophy, geometry, the school laws of Alabama, 
and theory and practice of teaching. 

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted^ That in all exam- 
inations under this act the answers shall be written 
on legal cap paper with pen and ink. The subject 
or branch shall be plainly written at the top of the 



page, and the answers shall be numbered to cor- 
respond with the questions. 

Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That when an 
applicant shall have completed his examination he 
shall write his name and address on each paper of 
the same and deliver the same to the County 
Superintendent of Education or other person 
appointed to conduct the examination, who shall 
inclose the papers of each applicant in a separate 
envelope, together with his certificate of the good 
moral character of the applicant or the written 
proof of the same, on which he admitted the ap- 
j)licant to examination, and shall transmit the same 
to the Secretary of the State Board of Examiners, 
without delay. 

Sec . 13 . Be it further enacted, That the State 
Board of Examiners shall examine the papers 
coming to it under the provisions of the preceding 
section, as expeditiously as possible, and shall mark 
upon each paper the teacher's grade in that branch 
according to the correctness or approximate correct- 
ness of the answers, and if, upon such examina- 
tion, it appears that the applicant is entitled to 
receive a certificate, the Secretary of the Board 
shall prepare a certificate in conformity with sec- 
tion 9 of this act. Said certificate shall be signed 
by the Secretary of the State Board of Examiners 
and the Superintendent of Education, and shall be 
transmitted to the teacher entitled to the same. 

Sec. 14. Beit further exacted, That all examina- 
tion papers shall be kept on file in the office of the 
Superintendent of Education, subject to public 
inspection, for one year. 

Sec. 15. Be it further enacted, That certificates 
granted under the provisions of this act shall 



8 

entitle their holder to teach in the public schools of 
any county in this state for the following periods of 
time : A third grade certificate, two years ; a 
second grade certificate, four 3^ears ; and a first 
grade certificate, six years, from the date of issuance 
of the same. 

Sec. 16. Be it further enacted^ That no teacher 
shall be granted either a third grade or a second 
grade certificate more than twice. 

Sec. 17. Be it further enacted, That whenever 
any teacher applying for a certificate shall make 
proof that he has been engaged for ten years in 
teaching under first grade certificates, which proof 
the County Superintendent of Education shall 
transmit to the State Board of Examiners, and 
shall show a high degree of proficiency and pro- 
fessional attainment, such teacher may be granted 
a life certificate, signed as prescribed for other 
certificates ; Provided^ that any teacher holding a 
life certificate shall forfeit the same by leaving off 
the business of teaching for five consecutive years. 

Sec. 18. Beit further enacted, That the Super- 
intendent of Education shall have the power, and 
it is hereby made his duty to revoke the certificate 
of any teacher who shall be guilty of immoral 
conduct, or unbecoming or indecent behavior. 

Sec. 19. Be it further enacted, That the Secre- 
tary of the State Board of Examiners is hereby 
required to keep a register of all the teachers 
examined and licensed under this act, showing the 
name and post oftice address of each teacher, and 
the date and grade of his certificate, and keep same 
■on file in office of State Superintendent of Educa- 
tion . 

Sec. 20. Be if further enacted, That all laws and 



•parts of laws in any ^vay conflicting with the pro- 
■visions of this act be and the same are hereby re- 
pealed. 

RULES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EX- 
AMINERS. 

(These Rules are Based on the Attorney General's 
Interpretation of the Law.) 

First. Teachers who hold life certificates from 
State Normal Colleges, authorized by their charters 
to issue such certificates, are not subject to exami- 
nation. 

Second. Teachers in school districts, specially 
authorized by. their charters to examine their 
teachers, are not subject to examination. 

Third. Teachers in State schools, acting under 
special charters giving exclusive control of such 
schools to their boards of trustees, are not subject to 
examination, unless the schools shall receive town- 
ship or district funds, in which case those who 
teach any of the common school branches and 
those who share in the distribution of the township 
or district funds shall procure a certificate. 

Fourth. All teachers holding unexpired certifi- 
cates granted under the old general law, and all 
teachers not exempted by Rules 1, 2 and 3 are sub- 
ject to examination. 

Fifth. All graduates from chartered institutions 
except those exempted by Rules 1, 2 and 3 are sub- 
ject to examination. 

Sixth. Applicants for first or second grade cer- 
tificates failing to make the necessary percentage 
to obtain a certificate in the grade applied for, but 



10 

making the requisite percentage in the branches 
required for a lower grade certificate, may be 
granted such lower grade certificate . 

Seventh. Teachers who procure a low grade 
certificate may apply for a higher grade certificate 
at any subsequent examination ; but must take the 
full examination of the grade for which they apply. 

Eighth. Teachers who have taugh ten years 
under a first grade certificate in Alabama, and who 
shall show a high degree of proficiency and profes- 
sional attainment, may be granted a first grade 
certificate for life". The proof of time taught shall 
be furnished the State Board of Examiners, through 
the County Superintendent, and may be made as 
follows : 

First. By exhibiting to tlie State Board of Ex- 
aminers their former licenses. 

Second. By certificate of any member of the 
examining boards issuing said licenses. 

Third. By certificates from the Superintendents 
of the counties in which such licenses were issued. 

Fourth. By affidavit from the applicant that he 
has held a first grade license for ten years. 

Fifth. In cases where, for any reason, the law 
has not been enforced, and the teacher was clearly 
entitled to a first grade license under the law, such 
proof may be made by the certificate of three rep- 
utable persons having knowledge of the facts. 

Proof of Proficiency and Professional 
Attainment. 

An applicant for a life certificate, as evidence 
of proficiency and professional attainments, shall ^ 
at the time of the regular examination, through the- 



11 

County Superintendent, furnish to the State Board? 
of Examiners : 

First. A sketch not exceeding five hundred 
words in length, of his school work the last ten 
years. 

Second. A thesis on some subject pertaining ta 
the theory and practice of teaching, not exceeding 
six hundred words in length. The subject for said 
thesis shall be assigned by the State Board of 
Examiners as questions are assigned t« other ap- 
plicants. 

Third. Testimonials from three educators of 
recognized standing that he has a good character, 
and has shown a high degree of proficiency and 
professional attainment. 



INSTRUCTIONS REGAilDING EXAMINA- 
TION LAW. 

Examinations will be held in each county of the 
State on the first Monday in March, June, Septem- 
ber and December, and may continue two days. 
Examinations will be held at no other time. 

1 . It is the duty of the State Board of Examin- 
ers to prepare questions and furnish them to County 
Superintendents, to examine and grade the papers 
and to issue certificates to teachers. 

2. On the day set for the examination, the- 
County Superintendent shall at 10 o'clock a. m., 
in the presence of the applicants, break the seal of 
the package containing the questions. He shall 
conduct the examination in person, unless he shall 
be unable to do so by reason of sickness or other 
unavoidable necessity, in which case the examina- 



12 

tion shall be conducted by some competent person 
appointed by him. All applicants shall undergo 
the examination in the same room, and in sight of 
the Superintendent or other person appointed by 
him to conduct the examination. (Two rooms with 
connecting door or doors may be used). The sum 
of five dollars per day is allowed each County 
Superintendent for conducting the examination. 

3. No applicant shall sit near enough to another 
to read his paper. No applicant that receives or 
endeavors to procure assistance from any source 
will be granted a certificate, and it is the duty of the 
County Superintendent or other person appointed 
to conduct the examination to advise the State 
Board of Examiners if this rule is violated. 

4. Unless the applicant is known to the County 
Superintendent of Education to be of good moral 
character, he shall make satisfactoiy proof of the 
same in writing and without such proof he shall 
not be admitted to examination. Any one who 
habitually uses profane language or intoxicants is, 
by the law, deemed of immoral character. The 
proof submitted by the applicant or the County 
Superintendent's certificate must accompany the 
examination report. 

5. When the examination is completed, each 
applicant shall sign a certificate that he has neither 
given nor received any assistance in the examina- 
tion ; which statement shall be kept on file by the 
County Superintendent . 

6. Answers must be written on legal cap paper 
with pen and ink . (All stationery to be furnished by 
the applicant.) That the paper in each county 
may be uniform in size, color, quality, etc., each 
County Superintendent is advised to procure a 



supply and furnish it to teachers at a reasonable- 
price. 

The subject or branch must be plainly written at 
the top of the page, and each answer numbered to 
correspond with the question. On each paper of 
his examination the applicant must write his name 
and address. When the examination is completed 
the County Superintendent must immediately for- 
ward the papers to the Secretary of the State Board 
of Examiners, at Montgomery. The papers of each 
applicant must be in a separate envelope and sealed, 
on which should be written his name, address and 
color. County Superintendents will be allowed to 
deduct from fees received the amounts necessary to 
send papers to Secretary of Board. 

7. Applicants shall, before starting upon the 
examination, deposit with the County Superintend- 
ent or other person appointed to conduct the exam- 
nation, fees as follows : For third grade, one 
dollar ; for second grade, one and one-half dollars ; 
for first grade, two dollars ; for life certificate, two 
dollars. The fees shall be paid into the State 
Treasury to the credit of the public school fund. 

8. Four grades of certificates will be issued, viz : 
First, Second, Third and Life. A third grade 
certificate is good for two years ; a second for four 
years ; a first for six years ; a life for life. Third 
and second grade certificates will be issued to the 
same teacher but twice. Life certificates will be 
issued under Kule 8. 

9. Applicants for third grade certificates will be 
examined on the following branches : Orthography, 
reading, penmanship, grammar, practical arith- 
metic through fractions, primary geography, and 
the elementary principles of physiology and hygiene ;: 



14 

applicants for second grade certificates will be ex- 
amined in all the foregoing branches, and also in 
practical arithmetic, history of Alabama, history of 
•the United States, English grammar and com- 
position, and intermediate geography ; applicants 
for first grade certificates will be examined in all 
the foregoing branches, and also in algebra, natural 
philosophy, plane geometry, scliool laws of Ala- 
bama, and the theory and practice of teaching. 

10. The examination in penmanship will be of 
such a nature that a teacher who is familiar with 
any system can take it. 

11. Letters or papers of any other character 
should not be enclosed with answer papers. 

12. Applicants who are absent at the beginning 
of the examination must not be admitted to the ex- 
amination. 

13. Superintendents shall distribute questions 
on a ^given subject to all applicants at the same 
time, and no other questions shall be distributed 
until all who are answering these questions shall 
have completed and turned in their papers. F'or 
instance, the third grade orthography papers w^ill 
be distributed, and no other third grade questions 
will be distributed until all third grade applicants 
have completed orthography. So with the other 
grades. Superintendents can set the time to be al- 
lowed for each subject. This schedule must be so 
arranged, however, that the entire examination can 
be completed in two days. If an applicant absents 
himself from the room before any subject is com- 
pleted he will hand in his paper on that subject, 
which w^ill be his examination. 

14. No question prescribed by the State Board 
of Examiners shall be set aside, nor shall queries 



15 

•regarding the interpretation of questions be an- 
swered by the County Superintendent or Examiner. 

15. In case the County Superintendent wishes 
to take the examination, he will appoint some other 
competent person to conduct the examination, and 
this person so appointed shall have all the powers 
and duties of the County Superintendent as to col- 
lecting fees, papers, etc., and returning the answer 
papers to the secretary of the State Board of Ex- 
aminers. It is suggested whenever a County 
Superintendent takes the examination, either 
for a grade or life certificate, that he have nothing 
to do with the papers, but that he turn the matter 
over entirely to the person he appoints to conduct 
the examination. 

16. The Board of Examiners suggests that white 
and colored teachers be examined in separate rooms, 
with connecting doors, if possible. 

17. It will be necessary in a majority of coun- 
ties for the County Superintendent to procure a 
room with desks for the purposes of the examina- 
tion. The school buildings or other suitable places 
can be easily obtained for this purpose. 

18. County Superintendents will examine the 
credentials of all graduates of Normal schools, and 
if they come under the provisions of Rule 1 of the 
State Board of Examiners, examinations will not be 
required, nor will it be necessary to issue them a 
certificate. The names of Normal graduates who 
are exempt under Rule 1 will be sent to the secre- 
tary of the State Board of Examiners in separate 
envelopes when the answer papers are sent in. If 
their names are not on the register on file, 
estimated amounts for them on pay-rolls 
will not be approved. The following Normal 
Schools are authorized by their charters to issue life 



16 

certificates, but all diplomas from them are not life 
certificates ; Florence Normal, Troy Normal, Jack- 
sonville Normal, Livingstou Normal and Montgom- 
ery Normal for colored students. County Superin- 
tendents will also &end to the secretary of the State 
Board of Examiners the names of all teachers in 
separate school districts who are exempt from ex- 
amination under Rule 2 of the State Board of Ex- 
aminers, wdiere these districts draw their funds 
through them. 

19. Under the law, assistants as well as Princi- 
pals will have to procure certificates, and County 
Superintendents are urged to see that no Principal 
draws public money unless all his assistants wha 
teach common school branches have certificates. 
This department will not approve payrolls for Prin- 
cipals unless the names of their assistants are on 
the register on file in the department of education. 

20. County Superintendents will give notice' 
through the county press, or in some other way, of 
the time and place at which the examinations will 
be had. 

21 . When the examinations are completed County 
Superintendents or other persons appointed to con- 
duct the examinations will certify to this department 
the length of time consumed in the examinations, 
which, in no case, can be more than two days, and 
Auditor's warrants will be mailed for the amounts 
due them. 

22. If it should happen that not enough papers- 
on any subject have been sent. County Superin- 
tendents, or other persons appointed to conduct the 
examinations, will allow the papers to be passed 
among the applicants. 

STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS : 

John W. Abercrombie, President, 
John L. Dodson, Secretary, 
G. W. Brock, Member, 



L'BRARY OF CONGRESS 

021 773 996 2 



